Since much of my Moore line was largely unkown to me until earlier this year, I hadn't run across
any mention of the exploits of my 7 x great grandfather before then. His story seems to have been
well lnown in New England up until the early 19th century and there was even a pamphlet written
about him. But there is also a substantlal bit about him in Alma Larkin Whites book on her family's
history. Here's the first part, which quotes a deed that established the parentage of John's wife
Eunice Wilder. It also includes instructions to John and his co-commanders regarding an expecition
they were to lead against the Indians:
JOHN 2 (46), b. in Lancaster Sept. 20, 1684; m. Eunice, dau. of
Lieut. Nathaniel and Mary (Sawyer) Wilder, b. , 1690. The
date of their marriage has not been found, but the following (found in
Worcester Deeds, Vol. 4, page 162), dated May 1, 1724, proves her
parentage :
"To all people to whom these present shall come Greeting. Know
ye we the Subscribers namely Samuel Carter and John White, both
of the town of Lancaster in the County of Worcester in the Province
of Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman, together with each
of our wives namely Dorothy the wife of me the said Samuel Carter
and Eunice the wife of me the said John White both our s d wives
being daughters of Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, some time of s d Lancaster
Deceased, for and in consideration of the Sum, of Forty pounds.
Hereby acquit exonerate & forever discharge our loving brother vis.
Cornet Nathaniel Wilder of Lancaster."
Capt. John White was a cooper and blacksmith by trade. He was
with Capt. Lovell at the killing of the ten Indians.
" Instructions to Captains Willard, White and Blanchard.
S r . Having Commissionated you to Command a Company of Vol-
untiers against the Indian Enemy, you are hereby Directed to Exer-
cise and maintain good Discipline and Government among your Offi-
cers and Soldiers and to Suppress and punish all Disorders, Vice, and
Immorality and to Keep up the Worship of God in your said Com-
pany. You must march to Pigwacket, unless you shall upon mature
Consideration Judge any other tour more effectual for the service,
withall Convenient Dispatch Joining such Companys of Voluntiers in
the County of Middlesex as shall be ready to proceed with you and
from thence march to such places where by your Intelligence may
Judge it probable to meet with the Indian Enemy. If you Judge it
necessary to keep the whole Body together in order to attack any
Tribe or Settlement of Indians I shall approve of your so doing, oth-
wise that Two Companys or halfe your Body proceed East" & the
other halfe to proceed from Pigwacket to Strike over to Amrescoggin
& Kennebeck River, endeavouring to get higher up the said Rivers then
the places of the Indians Settlements one party of which to Come
down Amrescoggin River to Fort George & the other down Kennebeck
River to Richmond, and if your provision should fall short so as that
the whole cannot be sufficiently furnish d for the march to Amrescoggin
& Kennebeck Rivers, some of your Feeblest men must Come into
Berwick. The remaining part of the Body to go off to the North
Westward in Quest of the Indian Enemy said to be there taking with
them the Mohawks for their Guides. Let your Marches be with all
the Secrecy & Silence as well as Dispatch, you are Capable of. You
must Kill, Take & Destroy to the utmost of your power all the Enemy
Indians you can meet with in your March, & Search for their Corn,
destroying all you can find. And give Intelligence from time to time
of every thing of Importance that may happen."
(Massachusetts Archives, LXXII, 250.)
pp33-34
Genealogy of the descendants of John White of Wenham and Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1638-[1909]
Chase Brothers Publishers, Haverhill, Ma 1900
More on John White's part in this expedition in the next post.
To be continued...
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